Rays begin 2013 season at home vs. Orioles

By
Bill Chastain

BALTIMORE -- The Rays will open the 2013 season at home.

On Opening Day on April 2, the Orioles will leave their Spring Training home in Sarasota, Fla., to step inside Tropicana Field for the opener of a three-game series against the Rays. After the O's depart, the Indians will arrive for a three-game series before the Rays leave home for the first road trip of the season: a 10-game trip to Texas, Boston and Baltimore.

Also in the opening month of the season, the Rays will host the Yankees for the first time in a three-game series at Tropicana Field that begins on April 22. And the Red Sox first come to St. Petersburg on May 14 for a three-game set.

Because the Astros are making the transition from the National League to the American League in 2013, each league will consist of 15 teams. That balance will necessitate an Interleague contest being played every day rather than during predetermined phases of the season as has been the case in the past.

The Rays' first Interleague contest will take place in Denver, where the Rays face the Rockies at Coors Field from May 3-5.

The Padres will be the Rays' first Interleague opponent at Tropicana Field, where San Diego comes in for a three-game set on May 10.

The AL's newest member, the Astros, will host the Rays for a four-game set beginning on July 1, with the finale taking place on the Fourth of July. Houston will then visit Tropicana Field for a three-game series from July 12-14.

Other Interleague opponents who will visit Tropicana Field include the Marlins (May 27-28), the D-backs (July 30-31), and the Giants (Aug. 2-4).

Of note, among the Rays' road games, Tampa Bay will play at Dodger Stadium for the first time in franchise history when it faces the Dodgers from Aug. 9-11.

A tough West Coast swing is scheduled from Aug. 30 through Sept. 8, when the Rays play the Athletics, Angels and Mariners in a 10-game trip.

The final homestand of the 2013 season has the Rays hosting the Rangers and Orioles for four games each from Sept. 16-23.

Wrapping up the 2013 season, the Rays will travel to New York to play the Yankees for three games from Sept. 24-26, and they will end the season in Toronto with three games against the Blue Jays from Sept. 27-29.